title: Phloem transport: a review of mechanisms and controls.
abstract: It is generally believed that an osmotically generated pressure gradient drives the phloem mass flow. So far, this widely accepted Münch theory has required remarkably few adaptations, but the debate on alternative and additional hypotheses is still ongoing. Recently, a possible shortcoming of the Münch theory has been pointed out, suggesting that the Münch pressure flow is more suitable for herbs than for trees. Estimation of the phloem resistance indicates that a point might be reached in long sieve tubes where the pressure required to drive the Münch flow cannot be generated. Therefore, the relay hypothesis regained belief as it implies that the sieve tubes are shorter then the plant's axial axis. In the source phloem, three different loading strategies exist which probably result from evolutionary advantages. Passive diffusion seems to be the most primitive one, whereas active loading strategies substantially increase the growth potential. Along the transport phloem, a leakage-retrieval mechanism is observed. Appreciable amounts of carbohydrates are lost from the sieve tubes to feed the lateral sinks, while a part of these lost carbohydrates is subsequently reloaded into the sieve tubes. This mechanism is probably involved to buffer short-term irregularities in phloem turgor and gradient. In the long term, the mechanism controls the replenishment and remobilization of lateral stem storage tissues. As phloem of higher plants has multiple functions in plant development, reproduction, signalling, and growth, the fundamental understanding of the mechanisms behind phloem transport should be elucidated to increase our ability to influence plant growth and development.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Plant Ecology, Department of Applied Ecology and Environmental Biology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Veerle
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: De Schepper
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: De Swaef
authors.forename: Ingvar
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bauweraerts
authors.forename: Kathy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Steppe
mesh_terms: D001692:Biological Transport; D050260:Carbohydrate Metabolism; D052585:Phloem / Q000378:metabolism*; D063245:Plant Development; D010944:Plants / Q000378:metabolism*
keywords: Carbon transport; Münch theory; leakage-retrieval mechanism; loading; phloem; plant defence; relay hypothesis; signalling; sink; sources; sugar transport; unloading.